A Quick Glimpse At The Coolest Job In The World [VIDEO]

Fighter pilot attitude is the stuff of legend with whole movies based on potential cockiness alone, and sometimes it's easy to see why.

There are few other place so much power and speed are combined for a person in one place. The video below is short, not high resolution and lacks much action, but is still very cool. The F-15 is finishing its refueling, and then heads off to take care of business with a flourish.

Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney engines producing up to almost 30,000 pounds of thrust apiece, the jet can reach speeds of nearly seventeen-hundred miles-per-hour. Suddenly, watching Top Gun again seems like a great idea. Some choice movie quotes are below video via IMBb.

Video Trailer Clip

After writing with commenters this morning, I shrugged off all remaining restraint and wedged some of the best Top Gun lines below. Ideally, the trailer should be running through this link in the background as you read.

Iceman: You two really are cowboys. Maverick: What's your problem, Kazanski? Iceman: You're everyone's problem. That's because every time you go up in the air, you're unsafe. I don't like you because you're dangerous. Maverick: That's right! Ice... man. I am dangerous.

Charlie: Excuse me, Lieutenant. Is there something wrong? Maverick: Yes ma'am, the data on the MiG is inaccurate. Charlie: How's that, Lieutenant? Maverick: Well, I just happened to see a MiG 28 do a... Goose: We! Maverick: Uh, sorry, Goose. *We* happened to see a MiG 28 do a 4g negative dive. Charlie: Where did you see this? Maverick: Uh, that's classified. Charlie: It's what? Maverick: It's classified. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

Jester: That was some of the best flying I've seen to date - right up to the part where you got killed.

Viper: In case some of you are wondering who the best is, they are up here on this plaque. [turns to Maverick] Viper: Do you think your name will be on that plaque? Maverick: Yes, sir. Viper: That's pretty arrogant, considering the company you're in. Maverick: Yes, sir. Viper: I like that in a pilot.

Goose: (checking out the plaque with names of the best of the best) No, boys. There's two "O"s in Goose.

Stinger: Maverick, you just did an incredibly brave thing. What you should have done was land your plane! You don't own that plane, the tax payers do! Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash. You've been busted, you lost your qualifications as section leader three times, put in hack twice by me, with a history of high speed passes over five air control towers, and one admiral's daughter! Goose: Penny Benjamin? [Maverick shrugs] Stinger: And you asshole, you're lucky to be here! Goose: Thank you, sir. Stinger: And let's not bullshit Maverick. Your family name ain't the best in the Navy. You need to be doing it better, and cleaner than the other guy. Now what is it with you? Maverick: Just want to serve my country, be the best pilot in the Navy, sir. Stinger: Don't screw around with me Maverick. You're a hell of an instinctive pilot. Maybe too good. I'd like to bust your butt but I can't. I got another problem here. I gotta send somebody from this squadron to Miramar. I gotta do something here, I still can't believe it. I gotta give you your dream shot! I'm gonna send you up against the best. You two characters are going to Top Gun.

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Editors' Picks

Coolest job in the world for the 5 hours top a week they are flying. Most fighter pilots are putting in close to 60 hours a week, 12 hour days, where much of their time is spent studying in the Intel Vault, a windowless room, or spent dissecting their most recent 1.5 hour sortie for 5 hours, going into every detail of why they broke left at 225 kts and not 220.
Much of the glamour of being a pilot is long gone with new existing technology, budget cuts and the fact that there really aren't any bases near hot young tail like their once was all the way through the 80's.